Well, I decided to step on the scales this morning since its been a week since I weighed and it showed me up 1 lb. I was a little upset, but I figure I was on liquids for so long and finally started mushy foods, maybe my body is just getting used to food now. Not sure why I'm up, but I won't let it get me down.
I feel really good & energetic today. The Ccap machine is doing wonders for my energy. Last night was the first night I was able to sleep with it all night. Usually I wake up because I open my mouth and then it dries my mouth out and I wake up choking. I finally went back to the sleep center and they gave me a chin strap. Well, that still wasn't working, but last night I figured out how to put the chin strap on where it would keep my mouth closed during the evening and I slept so good. I finally woke up around 4:30 am because my nose piece came off and the air was blowing on my cheek. But I get up at 5 am anyhow, so I pretty much slept with it all night.
My menu today looks like the following:
Bfast - 8 oz protein shake
lunch - 1/2 cup cottage cheese
dinner - 1/2 cup of cream of broccoli soup
And my goal is to get 64 oz of water in, do 30 min on treadmill.
Yay - I finally get to move to mushy food! I'm so happy.
Yesterday my menu was the following:
Bfast - 1 poached egg, some grated cheese
Lunch - 1/2 cup of refried beans with cheese
Dinner - 1/2 cup malt o meal with a little splenda, and soy milk
Snack - 1/2 cup of refried beans.
I need to work on getting my water in, I need to work on getting my protein in.
Today is my 12th day post op. I am feeling really good now. There was one point I was thinking "what have I done to myself". I was not prepared for so much pain because everyone says how easy it was. Well, I guess everyone is different.
I made it to the gym last night, I didn't do much, but I did do a little exercise. I got on the treadmill for 20 min at 2.4 MPH and did .78 mile. I am starting it slow per my doctors instructions. I plan on doing 20 min all this week and hopefully next week I can move up to 30 min. I won't be able to do any weights for awhile, however, I plan on kicking some butt with cardio during the next 6 weeks.
I'm still eating very little, if any. I am having a hard time getting protein in and I am hoping once I get to regular foods it will be better. I ordered a cup of french onion soup from Paneras yesterday and that lasted me 3 meals. I just sipped on the broth and not the onions. It was a nice change from BROTH. yuck.
1 more day until I can have refried beans!!!!!!:clap2:
Well, I'm off to the gym..........
Today is day 8 Post op. I am feeling better and better everyday. I was having a lot of blurred vision and a lot of pain on my left side (port side). I seem to be feeling better in the mornings, but in the evenings the pain is a little worse, not sure why?
Still not back at work yet, and probably won't go back until another couple of weeks. I'm still on clear liquids and I am wanting food. I'm really not hungry, I just desire food. But I WILL NOT CHEAT! I have 5 more days of clear liquids and then I will begin my mushy stage. I can have refried beans on that day, and I am really looking forward to refried beans!
I'm losing very quickly right now, not sure if that is good or bad. My doctor told my I hold the record of any of his Lap band patients for losing the most amount of weight from the time of my first visit to the first visit after surgery. He also wants me to be in his calendar for 2008 if I continue to lose. How exciting. I'm down 33 lbs now since my very first visit with the doctor. What have I done? I've simply followed the lap band rules. Simple.
I'm feeling very excited about this journey!
Today makes the 3rd day after my surgery. My soreness is still there and I notice it, however, it has gotten better. I was able to get off the couch by myself this morning.
My vision is the only thing really worrying me right now, it is all blurred. I am cutting out the demoral pain meds to see if that will help. I'm supposed to go have a lasik consultation on my eyes in a couple of days, and my vision being so blurred, not sure If I can do it.
I would say my pain level is around a 4 right now, and I notice when I take deep breaths I can feel the air going down, it hurts a bit, but not too bad.
My eating has been minimal. I can only sip a little on the broth, and I'm pretty much living off of sugar free popcicles right now to keep my hydrated. I'm also sipping on my water all thru out the day.
I weighed this morning just for the heck of it, but no more after this morning. My DH & daughter are going to hide the scales from me until 6 weeks is up. Anyhow, my weight this morning was 222.8. So, I'm glad I'm finally losing the surgery weight, I was 3 pounds over when I cam home from the hospital.
Well, I'm off to walk down my hallway to get me a little exercise.
Well, I checked into the hospital yesterday at 11:00 am, They finally came to get me for surgery a little after 1:00 pm. But they didn't start on my until around 2.
My blood sugar was really low, and since I had my surgery late in the afternoon, they kept me at the hospital. I was finally realeased the next day at around 7:00 pm CST. I'm glad to be home, however, still haveing quite a bit of soreness. Hopefully this will go away soon.
I weighed the day of my surgery so I could track my weight after surgery. My weight going into surger was 226.0.
Tomorrow is my day! I'm so excited, I'm nervous a bit, and I'm anxious. I'm anxious to get it over with!
I will have to be at the hospital at 11:00 am, my surgery time is not until 1:00. The only thing I am worried about is my low profile port. I hope they ordered it!
I received a call from the sleep center and it turns out the doc is recommending 12 cc of oxygen/air for me everynight. She said the average is 8 - 10 cc so I'm slightly above average. Not sure what that means??
They will call me back later today to get me set up to come pick up my cpap machine and show me how to clean it etc. They want me to have it before my surgery. She stated that I would heal faster with the machine.
I can't believe I only have 2 more days until banding! 48 hours to go!
This liquid stuff is about to kill me. I'm always hungry and I want to eat damn it! I am ready for surgery so I won't be hungry any more. My DH made fried catfish last night (he makes the best in the whole world!). Gosh, I went into the kitchn and there set a huge plate of it, so I ended up taking a piece. Yes, I cheated - AGAIN.
I've got to stick to liquids today, no cheating!:help:
Thursday night I headed back to the sleep study center for the test with my Cpap machine. I started off with a full face mask, I tried really hard to get used to the mask. But finally after much tossing and turning, I could not handle it and rung the bell for my tech. I told them I just couldn't do it. I felt like someone was trying to suffocate me, then I started feeling like I couldn't breath, and then I felt like the mask was making my face sweat (which it wasn't) They then brought me in a mask that was much smaller and didn't cover my entire face, it fit right underneath my nose.
Ahhhh, so much better. It was hard getting used to the air blowing up my nose, but I decided that I would do it. It is suppose to help you lose weight too, so I'm all about that! The night started off good, there was just a light air blowing from the machine. At some point in the night, I woke up to go the bathroom. I noticed the air coming out of the machine was much stronger than it was earlier, I ran for the tech to help me "untangle" the wires that were plastered all over my body and head. I came back and went right back to sleep. It turns out, they kept adjusting the machine thru the night to give me just the right amount of oxygen to make my sleep apnea disappear with the machine.
The tech came in at around 5:15ish to wake me up, they unhooked me and told me the results would be in either Monday (today) or Tuesday and they would schedule me to come back again to pick up the machine. I noticed as I was driving home that this was the first time I woke up without a headache. Anyhow, I went home and crawled back in bed for a few more hours. When I woke up again at around 8:30ish, my headache was back. I'm interested to get my machine and sleep with it and see if it cures my headaches or is just my imagination?
The benefits of having a cpap machine if you have sleep study are, I should feel a lot better sleeping with one, I won't feel as tired as I usually do in the mornings, and it should help me with my headaches. Also, the doc said that the oxygen will help speed up my matabolism and should help with weight loss - I LOVE THAT. I am really going to try and stick with the machine and see what happens. Also, my DH will love the fact that I won't keep him up snoring! Although I'm worried the sound of the machine might bother him, but we'll see.
In about a year, I will have to do another sleep study and if I lose weight, I should be cured from the sleep apnea.
Well, thats my experience with the sleep study test.........
My last meal was Saturday night at La Mansion restaurant. I was extremely hungry and looking forward to a good Mexican meal. My dinner started off with a basket full of warm chips with extra salt sprinkled on them, and a bowel of salsa. I order a cup of smoked white queso to go with my basket of chips.
I studied the menu really long and hard, decided exactly what I wanted. I decided to go with the Enchilada supreme dinner. It came with 4 enchiladas, a beef, chicken, bean and cheese. I asked for a shrimp instead of the bean and paid the difference. I also got a quacomole salad with my dinner. Normally, when I eat a large mexican dinner like this, I have leftovers - but not Saturday night. I ate every bit of it and was practically licking the plate for any drippings left behind.
I came home stuffed clear up to my neck, and ended up eating an oreo cookie. I was so full but totally satisfied. I felt like I truly enjoyed my "last supper".:hungry:
OMG - 3 more days....its finally getting here! Its really going to happen!
I'm on my all clear liquids - and totally forgot it is CLEAR liquids, I had a cup of coffee this morning, I added a scoop of vanilla protein powder to it, it was pretty good. :hungry: I'm still hungry, the the hungry is starting to go away and it is getting a little easier.
I am in the middle of an ice storm here in Oklahoma, but it is finally moving out, so hopefully that doesn't mess my surgery date up.
Menu today
1 cup of coffee - scoop of vanilla protein powder (should not be drinking coffee)
1 cup of beef broth
chocolate protein shake
SF lime jello
1 sf pinapple popsicle
protein shake - Slim Fast LC
Nectar shake
1 piece of fish
bite of chips & salsa
1 cup of chicken broth
I can't seem to get enough to make me not hungry with the liquids
Today marks 4 more days until my banding. :clap2: I had to start the liquid diet today, and I must say, I have failed. I've tried to be good, I really have. But I'm so hungry! I've got to do better at this!
1 cup of broth
slim fast lc shake
1 choco chip cookie
bite of pizza
sf jello
applie juice
1 cup of broth
Nectar Protein shake
Bite of garlic bread :embarassed:
IVE GOT TO DO BETTER! What the heck is wrong with me? I could kick myself!
I received a call from my docs off on Friday. My surgery time is 1:00 and I have to be at the hospital at 11:00 am. I'm not sure if I will have to spend the night at the hospital or not since my surgery is so late in the afternoon. I was hoping it would be earlier in the day since I can't have ANYTHING to eat and they are making me wait until 1:00 freaking o'clock. The losers!
I just found out my sleep testing came back that I do have sleep apnea. :pray2: I have to go back tonight for another test with the oxygen so they can determine what machine to give me/or how much oxygen I need. She told me that they monitor the occurances of someone sleeping and if there is more than 5, that person needs to be treated. Anything over 30 is considered severe. My average occurances was 11, so I was considered to be mild/moderate.
Anyhow, they will hook me up on a machine and I won't know the test results of this test until Monday. I was concerned that this would delay my surgery, but she said it would not. :clap2:
The Woman in the Mirror
Walking past the mirrored glass, I take a timid peak.
I see a woman staring back, I am to choked up to speak.
The puffiness, at last is gone, the skin pink and glowing.
The many pounds that melted off, Finally, now is showing.
Hard to believe until recently, the same woman was dying.
Stuffing the food to ease the pain, Heartbroken and crying.
Life revolved around each snack,She lived for every meal.
Anything to numb the hurt, She did not want to feel.
When did she get so pretty? When did God remove this grief?
How did this miricle happen? Who provided this relief?
What a gift!! A second chance!! I thank god everyday.
For his grace in showing me, there is a better way.
I walk, I dance, I make love too, my heart is filled with gladness.
I am out of bondage, I am out of pain, there is no more room for sadness.
This woman in the mirror, Smiles softly back at me.
She has good cause to be pleased, She has finally been set free!!!
OMG - we are down to 1 week! I'm so excited!
I have to be really strict from today going forward! No cheating what so ever. Sunday, I have to begin my clear liquids, not fun.
Yay, I'm going to be skinny!
8 days and counting! One week and 1 day, or 192 hours to go. I feel like singing - 8 bottles of beer on the wall, 8 bottles of beer, you take one down, you pass it around, 7 more bottles of beer on the wall...come on, you know the song. lol.
Okay, I'm really goofy this morning, probably because I had my sleep study test last night, and I really don't think I ever went to sleep. My mind was going crazy most of the night.
I got to the sleep study center at 9:30pm, they hooked me up and I was in bed around 11:00 pm. I turned the tv off and decided I was going to get a good night sleep. Well, I remember the tech coming in at some point during the night, and readjusted my nose piece, seems it came off. Then the next thing I remember is he came in around 5:30 am, and told me I had 3 pages of paper work to complete. As he was unhooking me he asked if I felt I didn't get to sleep last night, and I said "kinda", he then said he couldn't discuss my test, but don't be surprised if they have me come back. As I was leaving, he again said be prepared to come back before the surgery. Not sure what all that means, and hopefully the doctor will call me today to go over my test results.
I have a headache this morning as usual, I usually wake up with one so its nothing new (that was something that they said is a sign of sleep apnea).
When I went in for the pre-test yesterday, I spoke to the doctor and I asked her if I would know the results of my test when I woke up. She said no, and the techs were not allowed to discuss them. She did tell me if they came in and placed a ccap machine on me, that was a sure sign that I had apnea and needed the machine. So, they never did that, so I might not have apnea, not sure. I just know that I snore, like a freaking lion. This morning when I got home, my DH asked how it went and I told him what they said, he said 9 times out of 10, I'm sleeping like a log. I told him just because I'm snoring doesn't mean I'm in a deep sleep.
Well - there you have it, my journal for the day.
So far, here is the out of pocket expenses my part:
$50.00 - sleep study test bill finally came in
$25.00 - sleep study consultation with doc, copay amount
$43.50 - My first fill (3/6/07)
$532.12 - Additional hospital bill from Southcrest (3/6/07)
$200 - I had to pay a fee of $200 to my doc for processing the paperwork for insurance. This is non refundable, and the insurance does not pay this.
$90.00 - Upper GI fee at the hospital.
$43.50 - My estimated cost for the hospital fee for the surgery.
$173.00 - Had to pay an additional $173 to the hospital because they kept me overnight.
$400 - Deposit to my surgeon for my surgery. Not sure if I will owe more, or if part will be refunded once my insurance pays everything.
$200 - Deposit to the assistant to my surgeon, he opens me up for my surgeon.
$75 - Pysch Eval ($50 was for testing supplies, $25 for copay)
$25 - Copay to surgeon for pre-surgery consultation.
So far, I've spent $833.50 on the surgery, not bad for me. I have a sleep study test tonight, so not sure how much that will cost me.
WOW, we are in the single digits now. Just 9 more days until I'm in band land!
Yesterday was a very busy day, today is busy as well, and tomorrow is too. Matter of fact, this entire week is busy for me between work and all my doc appointments, I'm just a bit stressed today!
Yesterday here is how my day went:
8:30 - 11:15 - my preop. Had my blood work done, also an EKG, and chest xrays. I had to fill out and sign a ton of paperwork with the nurse, I paid my part of the hospital which was $43.50. I think I got out cheap on that one, she said the cost was $29,679, the discount rate negotiated with the insurance was $435 and I owed 10% of that. Cool. I had one small problem with the hospital, they had me put in my own words what I was having done and I told them a hiatal hernia repair and lap band. Well the problem was, the doctor didn't send an order for the hernia repair, so that caused a little stink, but the hospital nurse called my docs nurse and I think they got it worked out.
11:45 - I had to get my upper cervical care done at my chiopractor's office, my neck was killing me.
I got thru with the doc and swung thru KFC, got an order of boneless chicken wings, hot flavored and tried to eat them in the car, big mistake, too messy and they tasted bad, I ended up throwing them out.
I ran by to pick my daughter's skirt up from the alterations place before my next appointment which was at 1:00 pm with the Psych lady. We went over some stress techniques, craving techniques etc. She said I am ready for surgery. I got out of there around 1:50, I had to run to my docs office to take a short quiz they give every Monday from 1:30 - 2:30 (in between that I made a deposit at my bank). I had to show them that I knew about the changes I was about to make. I passed the test. Got thru with them at 2:30. Then I had a 3:00 pm appt with the dietician. We went thru a lot of info. Found out my clear liquid diet is no longer just 48 hours before surgery, but they are now requiring it to be FOUR days before surgery. So Sunday, I will have to start on clear liquids. eeks. I finished with the dieticial at around 4:20, had to meet with the surgeons office at 4:30 to go over the pre-surgery consultation. I didn't get out of his office until after 6:00 - I had a looong day.
I had a total of 6 appointments yesterday and managed to fit everyone of them in. I even was able to squeeze in two errands in (picked my daughters skirt up & went to bank).
I have to leave today at 11:00 from work to meet with the sleep center people. Then I will go back there tonight at 9:30 and spend the night there for my sleep study test. :notagree . I'm actually looking forward to this, I can sleep all by myself in a huge bed (my DH smothers me at night - he is a snuggler and I am not).
My eating was really off yesterday, I could kick myself. However, I will not cheat any more, promise! I ended up eating a dish from Zios, which had some pasta in it.
Well, I've got a ton to do at work because I am leaving next week, so I am going to stay focussed at work!
Yes, 13 more days and I will have a band! Yee Haw!
Thats okie talk for Yay. lol.
I went to the Psych last night, she didn't think I was crazy. I was glad to know that. I fooled her I guess. lol.
I have to go back to see her to go over my questions I answered on Monday. I have a full day on Monday with doc appts. I told her about this group here on the board I joined. She thought that was great and most people succeed with a support group.
I also paid my $600 to the doc, my deposit for my surgery. I also had my upper GI yesterday. I also submitted my paper work thru HR for short-term disability leave. (I'm trying to take off 3 weeks for the surgery)
Yes, it hurts, but it has to be done, I'm talking about taking my measurements. Since I start my pre-op tomorrow, I had my daughter take a before pic and I took my measurements. Man, they are BAD. I'm as big as a Dallas Cowboy linebacker! I decided that the pre-op is ever bit a part of the lap band, so I am counting every pound I lose, and every inch I lose from this point on.
I also probably will count the 20 pounds I already lost, I have worked for those, and I believe I deserve them. lol.
Okay, here goes my measurements:
Waist - 41 1/2"
Hips - 51" ( )
Left Thigh - 28" (this is what the waist is suppose to be)
calves - 17"
left arm - 15 1/2"
breast - 43"
under breast - 37"
OMG, I can't believe I am this fat! My before pics makes me look prego. My belly is huge! But all this is going to change!
Okay, I know I am trying NOT to focus on the scales as much as focussing on eating better and exercising. Matter of fact, I've avoided the scales I think for 5 days or more now. No desire to touch the scales at this point. However, lets face it, we are all having WLS to lose weight and get a better health.
I think I should weigh around 220 when I go into my surgery. With that being said, I am aiming for 140 to be my goal weight. I will be happy with 150, but 140 is my ultimate goal. From what I have been reading, the average weight loss is 50 to 70 % of your excess body weight. So my excess body weight would be 80 lbs right?
Anyhow, this paper I read stated that the average amount of weight loss is as follows:
6 weeks - 20% (that would be 16 lbs for me)
3 months - 33% (that would be 26 lbs for me)
and 1 year out - 67% (that would be 53 lbs for me)
I am really not planning on losing much my first 6 weeks, I hear a lot of people dont.
So, for me, I'm focussing on the 6 months out and 1 year out. My goal is to lose 35% the first six months and 55% the first year - so at my 6 months anniversary (July 18th, 2007) I want to weigh - 188 lbs. My 1 year anniversary (1/18/08) I want to weigh 175 lbs. I will then have an additional 35 lbs to go. I will work on that in 2008.
Are these goals doable for me? I think they are. I will do everything in power to reach these goals this year! If I can exceed the goals I've set for myself the first year, I will be a happy little girl. If I don't meet them and I know I did everything in my power. Then I will know that I am "below" average. Thats okay too. I know I'm a slow loser, so I will take that.
Okay, just had to write some of my thoughts down before I forget them.
Rules of the Road
What you need to know about living with the band
By Robin McCoy
When you begin the decision-making process to have Weight Loss Surgery (WLS), and specifically LapBand® Surgery, it is vital that you fully understand the changes you must make in your lifestyle. WLS is not a magic pill. Weight loss is something that you must work at to be successful. There are several rules and circumstances that someone who has undergone LapBand® Surgery, a “Bandster,” must follow and understand to see success and have a high quality banded life.
Drinking Before and After Meals
Not drinking during meals is, by far, one of the most important things to learn and is vital to your weight loss success. It is also one of the most challenging.
Stop drinking all liquids at least 30 minutes before your meal. This allows all that is in your pouch to drain through to the lower stomach. Therefore your pouch is empty when you eat allowing the food to fill you up properly.
Forgo all beverages during your meals. Drinking during a meal flushes the food through your band and the band is unable to function properly. Most people will have 2, 3 or even 4 glasses of liquid with meals. Servers in restaurants, trained to keep customers happy, will keep beverage glasses full throughout the meal. This is unhealthy for bandsters and sabotages their success. State firmly and clearly that you do not want a beverage. From personal experience, I know the often bewildered looks that follow the statement: “nothing to drink for me,” but diligence is the key. Like most changes required after the LapBand® procedure, not drinking with meals gets much easier with time. Having now lost over 100 pounds, I no longer have difficulty asking my server not to bring me a beverage!
Do not drink for an hour after a meal. The main reason is the same as drinking during your meal. Liquids wash the food through the band defeating its purpose. Another reason not to drink after a meal is if your pouch is full the beverage might not have anywhere to go…except backwards resulting in a spit-up. Suffice it to say that food and liquids making a return visit is not satisfying.
By starting this practice immediately, at the next meal, you will be well on your way to a successful banding experience.
Smaller Bites. More Chewing. Slower Eating.
Begin to recognize and understand what a Bandster Bite is. At your next meal look at your bite size. Look at the amount of food on your fork and remember it. Now, cut that bite in half. This is the Bandster bite size after surgery. Now, cut that bite in half. This is the size of a Bandster bite after the first fill or adjustment. After each fill the bite size will get smaller until the bandster is eating toddler-sized bites. The reason for this is so the bite can be chewed completely to a liquid before swallowing.
The next point is chewing. It is very important that food is completely chewed. Before swallowing ensure the food is a liquid. As the weight loss progresses the opening from the pouch to the lower stomach will be getting smaller. Therefore the food needs to be chewed more thoroughly. If a piece of food is too big to go through the stoma, or opening, it will get "stuck". This can be very painful.
Slower eating becomes inevitable. Eating too fast encourages bigger bites. The bigger bite means the food isn’t chewed properly and it can get stuck. As a Bandster with over 18 months in, I still find myself falling into this trap. I get excited, chatting with friends and just forget to pay attention.
A Bandster’s Eating Order
Lap-Band patients have a specific order in which to eat their food. It is important that there is enough protein in the diet to keep the bodies moving properly. Therefore, the protein should be eaten first. WLS patients need 40-60 grams of protein every day. This can come in a variety of ways. Protein shakes, cheese, fish, beef, chicken, soy. The challenge comes when only certain foods can be tolerated. Also, it is important that the protein is a “hard” protein (chicken, beef, and fish) if possible. It shouldn’t all come from protein shakes and cheese.
The vegetables should be eaten second, and carbohydrates/starches last (if there is room). Proteins last longer in the pouch and take longer to process through the band allowing you to feel full sooner and maintain satiety longer.
Hard proteins are the most difficult for a Bandster to consume. The hard proteins need to be more moist, more tender and chewed more completely than any other type of food. Generally speaking, proteins are the foods that get “stuck” most often and cause spit ups. This happens because the bite isn’t small enough and/or, because the protein hasn’t been chewed sufficiently before swallowing.
For the record, beef is generally the most difficult food for Bandsters to eat. Beef is one of the most difficult foods for humans to digest. It can take several days for a piece of steak to actually work its way through the digestive track. And that’s on an un-banded person! So, if you eat a piece of steak and it isn’t chewed it up completely, it can sit in the pouch for an extended amount of time. Further, the stomach acids that help an un-banded person process beef are not present in the pouch and therefore are not there to help the body break the beef down.
Remember each and every person is different so you will have to test your own waters. Some Bandsters have no trouble with beef whatsoever; others won’t go near it. From personal experience I know that each Bandster will figure out what he or she can or cannot tolerate through trial and error. Trust me when I say that tolerances change; one day ground beef is fine and the next you realize it isn’t any longer. You must be willing and able to adapt to sudden changes in your body’s ability to process certain foods.
The Constant Quest for Restriction; Not enough vs. too much
Restriction. No one can really describe it but everyone wants it. You have restriction when your band is adjusted to the point where you can eat 3-5 bites of well-chewed food and you are full. When this happens you have what is called good restriction.
You are too loose, or open, if you don’t feel full after just a few bites. You are able to eat more on a consistent basis than before. Maybe your weight loss has slowed or stopped. This is when it is time for a fill, or adjustment, in your band.
You are too tight when you can eat very little solid food or worse—none at all. If you are so tight that only liquids go through your band or you are spitting up too often this is too tight. If you can’t keep liquids down this is a medical issue and you must get some removed. You run the risk of becoming dehydrated. Being too tight is not a good thing!
Not only are you not getting the nutrition your body needs to function properly but it can also bring on a slippage in your band. If this happens you will require minor surgery to repair it.
Now that you know a little about what restriction is, let’s get a little deeper. There are three points to learn:
1. The first thing to understand is that every banded person feels restriction differently. So to compare yourself to others is difficult.
2. Also the amount of fluid in the band and the stomach’s reaction, or restriction, to it is a varied as the Bandsters reading this now. Everyone’s stomach is a different size and reacts to the band differently. It is fine to compare fluid levels but don’t get too caught up in “I have this and they have that”.
3. Finally, your level of restriction can change day to day. It can change meal to meal in some cases.
You are now asking, “How in the heck do I deal with that?” My answer is trial and error and learning about your band.
Let us go back to the beginning. Immediately after surgery you will feel restriction. The surgeon usually doesn’t put any fluid in your band during the surgery. The restriction you feel is the swelling of your stomach and it’s adjustment to the band that has suddenly been wrapped around it. You won’t get your first fill until 4-6 weeks after surgery.
You will be on clear liquids and they will fill you up quickly for the first few days. Then they will stop filling you up you will begin to feel hungry. About this time you will be allowed to eat mushy foods like mashed potatoes, creamy soups, etc. You will find that you eat just a few bites and you are full. This is great! Who knew a ¼ can of soup would be enough? This is going to be a piece of cake.
It isn’t going to last. Shortly this won’t satisfy and you will be moving on to solid food. That feeling of restriction comes back. A slice of turkey and you are stuffed!
This doesn’t last either. At about 4 weeks, sometimes earlier, you will start to feel hunger again. You feel like you are eating everything. Your weight loss has slowed or stopped. You start to freak out. “Where is my restriction?!” you cry.
This is a difficult time but one that every Bandster gets through. Just be patient and let yourself finish the healing process. Watch what you eat and know that you are not eating anywhere near what you were pre-band. The unfilled band supplies a certain amount of restriction and you won’t hurt your progress.
Your first fill will bring you back to the restriction point right after surgery. You will eat a few bites and feel full. You will start losing weight pretty quickly. You want to make sure you are eating your protein first, vegetables second and any starches last. This will ensure satiety.
This fill will usually last several weeks. Then it starts to loosen up. Your second fill is the one that usually kicks a Bandster in the butt. This is where they learn what not chewing thoroughly and taking bites that are too large can do.
And so it goes. Some Bandsters need one fill others need more. I had 4 over the course of the first year. I heard of one woman that lost 80 pounds on her first fill. This is why I stress not comparing yourself to your banded friends. It brings on frustration and we have spent enough time in our lives comparing ourselves to others. Now is the time to stop.
One of the largest environmental factors that make our band feel tighter is stress. I never truly understood what Bandsters were talking about when they said stress was tightening their band. That is until I started the process of buying a house. The stress of the pending inspection and what they might find had my band so tight I was barely eating. My band was so tight I cancelled my fill appointment.
Let me say right now that I learned from this experience and you need to make sure you are getting the right vitamins in to ensure your health. I wasn’t in any danger but I was very tired and was bruising like crazy! Well, the inspection went well. I got my house and my band opened back up. Food started going through more smoothly and I started eating better.
Other environmental factors can be tiredness, excitement, sadness, or just the fact that it is morning. Many Bandsters find they can’t eat until after 11 AM every day.
I don’t know if this satisfies your curiosity of what restriction is or what you are to do with it. I do hope you understand that everyone is different and it is a learning process. You will learn what it feels like for you to have good restriction and when your band is talking to you.
Being “stuck” and “spitting up”
As WLS patients we have a few fun words we use. Some are nice and some are not. You will hear “PB” which means “Productive Burp”. I prefer the simple term “spit up”.
What does “stuck” mean? Stuck means that what you have eaten won’t go through the opening between your pouch and lower stomach. This is called your “stoma”. The bite is too big to go through (meaning you didn’t chew it enough), it isn’t something that moves smoothly through the band (lettuce), or you just ate too darn much. When a bite of food goes through your esophagus and hits your pouch it has one of two places to go…through the band or back. If all is well it will go through with no problem either now or later. If it can’t make it to the pouch or through the stoma it will result in a spit up.
Understand that this is something that will happen to you and to every bandster out there. Call it a side-effect or whatever you like but it will happen. The questions are what causes a spit-up, what it feels like, what to do when it happens, and how to avoid them. Remember, things can change day-to-day, heck even meal to meal. This is the nature of the beast. Frustrating? Yes. Small price to pay? I think so.
What causes a spit up is easy. The bite it too big, you took one or two too many bites, you didn’t chew properly, or it is simply a food that you can’t tolerate right now. It is up to you to determine which of the above it true. Trust me… you will learn to determine this.
What does if feel like? You will know. The best way I can find to describe the feeling is when you drink a big gulp of water and it goes down with air. You get this pain in your chest that makes you feel like something is going to bust out. That is what it feels like when something is stuck. It can be minor or it can hurt like a son-of-a-gun. Some bandsters say their bodies tell them when they are finished eating and need to stop. Some Bandsters start to salivate which is their body’s way of washing the food through. Some, me included, get a heavy sigh or exhale; this tells us we are full. Don’t worry; you too will learn to read what your body is telling you…even if you don’t now.
What should you do when it happens? Stop eating is the first thing. It doesn’t matter if it is your first bite or your fifth. A spit up is your body’s way of telling you that you are full. This is your band in full-alert. It is telling you that you are done and to put the fork down. Many times you can stop eating and just wait it out. Until you are used to it you might get the “deer in the headlight” look. Soon you will just adjust. If it doesn’t go away then you need to deal with it.
Dealing with it means excusing yourself and heading to the bathroom. A spit up is just that. I compare it to a baby spit up. It should never be what you classify as vomiting. This is hazardous for a Bandster and should be avoided as it can cause slippage. There is a very large difference in spit ups and vomiting.
How to avoid them? Well, that comes with experience and a willingness to acknowledge when your “food police” tells you to stop. Very quickly you should learn when your band tells you to stop. I found that after my 2nd fill my band was at attention and told me when I was full. This is when I experienced my first spit ups and found foods that I could no longer tolerate.
One of the most difficult things to get your mind around is just how little you will be eating. Your band tells you that you are full but your brain engages and says, “You haven’t eaten nearly enough!” So you take that extra bite or two. Then there it is…the feeling in your chest…your eyes get big…and saliva fills your mouth.
The biggest point I want to get across to you is that, while normal, spitting up is not necessarily a good thing. You don’t want to be doing it every day and certainly not every meal. If this is happening you need to take a good look at what you are eating, how big your bites are, how much you are eating and to what level you are chewing. Be aware at the beginning and it will become more of a habit soon enough.
Surgery Is Not a Magic Pill
Surgery is not the magic pill we have all been waiting for. You will not wake up thin. You must be willing to meet the band half way. You will lose weight at a different pace than your friends. You must change your behavior for this to work. It is a tool—and nothing more. An electric mixer is easier than mixing by hand but you still have to follow the recipe for the cake to taste good.
Right now you should be asking yourself one question—“Am I ready to go the distance?”
It can be a joyful journey with the highest of highs. Moments that are so thrilling and uplifting that you don’t think you will ever come down. It is also a frightening journey as we venture into unfamiliar territory of who we are and where we are going. You are not going down this path alone. There are many Bandsters ahead of you on this path that are ready to help you along the way and take you with them to the next level.
So I ask, “Are you ready to go the distance?”
The countdown continues! Just 15 more days. Man, it is starting to sound close!
I begin my preop tomorrow. Not looking forward to it, but I will stick to it. I am following the program rules to a T! I am not screwing this up.
I was just talking to a friend at work, she is the ony one who knows about it at work. She had the gastric bypass by the same doc I am going to. She is actually the one who first told me about the band and recommended me to do that instead of the gastric bypass. Anyhow, I told her my fears, and my biggest fear is this will not work for me. She said that is a common fear, that we have all been on so many "failed" diets, its only natural to think that this might not work. She advised me to stay focussed, and follow the rules and see what happens. She assured me that this would work for me! So, I'm trying to stay positive.
I see so many on this forum that they state they have lost nothing. I've asked a few of them about their fills, or what are they eating, and are they exercising. So far, none of them have replied. So, I figure they are not following the rules. I'm not trying to pick on them, I just wanted to know, mainly for my sake. I want to know what NOT TO DO, I want to know the good, the bad, the ugly. I want to know it all. I know there will be times that I fall off the wagon, I'm expecting that. However, I am not going thru a major surgery just to fail. I am not just going to eat what I want. I know that changes must be made and I've already started making those changes. I find it so hard to believe that so many people have this surgery, then eat ice cream, pies, and wonder, "why haven't I lost weight"? I know that we should be able to have these special treats on ocasions, however, everyday? Please people, take care of your band, treat it right and then it will work for you. Okay, I'll get off my soap box before I affend someone. Sorry if I do, and maybe I'm completely wrong, after all, I'm no expert, I am not even with the band yet.
Maybe 6 months from now I might even be asking "why haven't I lost weight". So, time will tell.
Well, one of my New Years goals was to become a better employee, I seem to be slacking lately. Mainly because the Band has consumed my every waking thought. I'm on lapband talk 24/7. So I've made a commitment to be on it a limited amount of time. I know I could not go cold turkey. lol. So, I'm going to spend less time on the internet - and more time working. After all, they are paying me to work. I'm fortunate to have a job that I can get my work done at my own pace. However, I'm feeling really quilty lately. I just won an award for my outstanding performance, and I feel like I didn't deserve it.
Anyhow, with that said, I'm signing off and getting back to work. I will check in around 3 today when I take a short break.
1. Not to let the scales become my center of life
2. Focus on becoming healthy by doing the following
a) Getting Lapband
Excercising - will work up to 5 days a week. Right now, making it a goal to exercise 3 x's per week
c) Making better choices, but not beat myself up if I make the wrong choice, realizing I'm only human.
3. Work on paying off my debt. I will do this by not using my credit cards in 2007.
4. Work on having a better relationship with my teenage children. I will do this by spending more quality time with them.
5. I also want to make it a habit to read my daily scriptures. I will do this by keeping them in my car so I will remember to read them.
6. I want to work at being a better employee at work. I will do this by spending less time on the internet.
These are just a few of my goals, and I will update them as I think of more.
